New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-03
THE RACING SEASON.

While the snow was 1alnng lnlcKly yesterday
il was lard for the most enthusiastic turfman
TO realize that the opening Of the regular racing
season in this part Of the country was little
more than a month away. 1t is true that TIC
irregular season has been in progress nearly
all winter. and New Jersey has been afflicted
with the melancholy spectacle Of scarccrows on
four legs hoblling over the frost bound soil
of Gutenberg for the lcnclit of the pool box.
The theatre of this so called sport was trans
fcrrcd recently to Clifton. and there mid snow
and ice wocbcgonc castofS from the city
streets move in funeral piocc ion around the
track, while sleek pool sellers and their silly
dupcs mock the agonic' which the poor brutcs
suffer from their stifIcncd limbs It is under
stood that al ringing Of bells is stcrnly for
hidden on the Clifton grounds, as the wlctchcd
racers " have a disagrccab!c habit Of stopping
short if they hear any sound OF that sort and
refusing TO start again until tlcy are satisfied
that Tie conductor has done his duty. 1t is
impossible to rid them Of the shac>Ics with
which years Of sad experience in Third ave.
have fcttcrcd them.
1t is. OF course. farcicaI TO call such per
formanccs rs those at Guttcnlcrg, Clifton and
Brighton Beach racing. But Of the genuine
sport there will lie an abundance and variety
surprising the record Of any previous year.
The Brooklyn jockey Club did rot open It's
grounds in 1856 until August but this year
it will begin racing carly in May. TO be fol
lowed by the American Jockey Club at Ford
ham. Then the scene will change to the green
fields Of Shccpshcal Bay and Is the heats Of
July set in Monmouth will take up the series
and will H. the chief centre Of attraction for
racing men during the remainder Of the sum
mcr Next the thoroughhrcdS with their friends
will return to Shccp>hoal Bay and later viii
visit Parkvillc and Fordham again Thus there
viii hc an almost mbrolcn stretch Of racing
FOR three days in the week from carly in May
b. November. What change from the time
only twenty yc1rs ago when two meetings in
the season at jerome Park gave New Workers
the only racing they had chance 10 see with
ont going TO Saratoga or Baltimore
And there has been n great chang" too in
the ranks 81 the men who sustain the sport
TIC names and co'ors OF Milton II. SANFORD
William X. Travcrs Leonard W. Jerome John
Hunter. Pierre Lorillard George l.. Lorillarl
and others who gave 4 most generous and
honorable support to The lest interests Of the
turf are now missing from the roll. 1t is i'm
possible Ia fill the gaps made 10y such losses.
The American turf To- day numbers among lis
owners Of racing stables men Of liberal minds
and public spirit but they far too few.
The craving 20 make every cent possible out
Il the turf without regard to lis permanent
prosperity or It's present reputation. has be
come much too prevalent. BookmakcrS and
booksellers press to The front and crowd better
men to the wall. The jockey clubs are
100 tolerant and Indifferent TO turf scandals.
Few Of the precautions enforced in England
60 protect tie public against fraud are rrac
ti.cd here. Any stable boy or hootback can
ride without a license. and any cowboy can
take charge Of a stable Is a trainer without
getting permission from any recognized an
thority. Any backguarl can h. guilty Of dis
honest tricks with his horses on one track and
tccl eafc from interference on another. The
clubs rs yet show no diSpo-ilion to act together
to purify The turf. They will find that unless
they build their foundations strong and sure
The structure Of their prosperity cannot last.